Dolomites 5-Day Car-Camping Road Trip

Five days of car camping, big hikes, and mountain highs across the South Tyrol Dolomites — from the turquoise shores of Lago di Sorapis and the WWI tunnels of Tre Cime to a ridgeline party above Val Gardena and a final lap of Lago di Braies.

Miha Rek

@miharek · creator's guide

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33 stops · 178 mi · 18h 59m on the road

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1

Arrival at Lago di Misurina

1 stop

Drive in, settle by the lake, and get an early night before the hiking begins.

Night 1

Lago di Misurina

Auronzo di Cadore

Arrived late afternoon and parked near the pizzeria — a low-key first night car-camping beside the lake before the Sorapis hike the next morning.

2

Lago di Sorapis hike & sleeping at Passo Giau

4 stops

A full day on the trail to one of the Dolomites' most photogenic lakes, ending with a car-camping night at a high mountain pass.

Parking Lago Di Sorapis

Cortina d'Ampezzo

Parked here for a flat €10 for the whole day — a convenient and affordable base for the Sorapis trailhead.

0.5 mi · 2m

HIKE

Lago di Sorapis

8.4 mi · 1,184 ft↑ · 5h 36m

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hike

Finish — Lago di Sorapis

14 mi · 26m

Night 1

Passo Giau

San Vito di Cadore

Second night sleeping in the car, parked at one of the most scenic passes in the Dolomites. Hard to beat waking up to those views.

3

Tre Cime loop, ferrata & WWI tunnels

12 stops

Drive north to hike the iconic Tre Cime circuit, crawl through WWI tunnels and take in sweeping views of the Cadini di Misurina.

Parking

Auronzo di Cadore

Pre-booked parking weeks ahead for €40 — well worth it. The alternative is a public bus from Misurina, which gets very crowded. Booking in advance gives you a stress-free start to a big day.

0.2 mi · 1m

HIKE

Tre Cime loop with Monte Paterno ferrata

6.8 mi · 1,765 ft↑ · 6h 22m

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hike

First Sight Of The Peaks

Dobbiaco

Your first proper view of the three iconic peaks rising above the plateau — a moment that makes the drive worthwhile.

hike

Start Of Monte Paterno Ferrata

Auronzo di Cadore

Start of the Monte Paterno ferrata — an easy via ferrata that winds through genuine WWI tunnels carved into the rock. Gear up here with helmets and climbing kit for the best views of the peaks from the summit.

hike

Viewpoint

Auronzo di Cadore

hike

Dreizinnenhütte Rifugio Antonio Locatelli - S. Innerkofler

Dobbiaco

Classic mountain hut right beneath the peaks — a well-earned lunch stop mid-loop.

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hike

malga Grava Longa

Dobbiaco

A welcome beer stop on the way back down.

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hike

Finish — Tre Cime loop with Monte Paterno ferrata

130 ft · 1m

HIKE

Cadini di Misurina

2.2 mi · 456 ft↑ · 1h 27m

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hike

Cadini Di Misurina Viewpoint

Auronzo di Cadore

hike

Finish — Cadini di Misurina

40 mi · 47m

Night 1

Passo Sella

Selva di Val Gardena

Last night sleeping in the car, perched at Passo Sella with the Sassolungo massif on the doorstep.

4

Seceda ridgeline, Val Gardena & mountain party

15 stops

Ride the cable car up to Seceda, hike the ridgeline above Urtijei and catch drone views of the Sassolungo massif at golden hour.

Rifugio Friedrich August

Campitello di Fassa

Start the day right with the famous krapfen at Rifugio Friedrich August — a beloved local tradition before heading up to Seceda.

11 mi · 21m

Parking

Urtijëi

Drove from Passo Sella and ended up at this parking lot after others were full. Costs around €5 per hour, so factor that into your budget.

1 mi · 4m

GONDOLA

Ortisei - Furnes

2.8 mi · 3,776 ft↑ · ~21m

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Finish — Gondola ride up

0.2 mi · 5m

Panorama Seceda

Villnöß

The dramatic jagged ridgeline of Seceda is one of the Dolomites' most photographed panoramas. The gondola costs €76 per person return — steep, but the views justify it.

0.3 mi · 7m

Sofie

Val Gardena

Lunch on the mountain at Baita Sofie, right on the Seceda plateau with panoramic views.

0.1 mi · 1m

CABLE CAR

Furnes - Seceda

2.8 mi · 3,776 ft↓ · ~21m

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Finish — Gondola ride down

0.6 mi · 12m

Piscina Mar Dolomit

Kastelruth

Wound down the day with a swim — hotel guests get free entry, a nice perk after a big day on the mountain.

1.1 mi · 4m

FUNICULAR

Standseilbahn Raschötz - Funicolare Rasciesa

1.4 mi · 2,556 ft↑ · ~10m

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Finish — Funicular ride up

Chalet Resciesa Ortisei

Ortisei

An unforgettable end to the trip: a house party organised by cava.sound at a mountain chalet, with some of the best views in the Dolomites as the backdrop. Highly recommended if you can catch an event here.

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100 ft · 1m

FUNICULAR

Funicular ride down

1.4 mi · 2,602 ft↓ · ~10m

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Finish — Funicular ride down

0.9 mi · 19m

Night 1

Hotel Garni August

Kastelruth

A lovely hotel with great views over Ortisei — a comfortable final night after days of car camping.

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5

Lago di Braies & the drive home

1 stop

Final morning at the iconic emerald lake of Lago di Braies, then a relaxed drive back through Kastelruth.

Lago di Braies

Braies

A perfect final stop: an easy circular walk around the emerald-green lake, ringed by sheer Dolomite walls. Parking is around €3 per hour. Go early to beat the crowds.